Brewer opposes foreign countries' participation in appeal

Gov. Jan Brewer filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit Tuesday opposing efforts by nearly a dozen foreign countries to weigh in on Arizona's new immigration law.

Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Chile have filed briefs to the appeals court in support of the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1070.

Mexico in its brief stated that the country has an interest in ensuring that its diplomatic relations with the U.S. are not frustrated by the actions of individual states. Filings by the other countries stated that they "are gravely concerned that SB 1070 will lead to racial profiling and disparate treatment of its nationals."

The court on Monday agreed to let the nations submit their briefs. Brewer's motion Tuesday asks permission to respond to their argument

"I find it incredibly offensive that these foreign governments are using our court system to meddle in a domestic legal dispute and to oppose the rule of law," Brewer said in a news statement.

A number of other cities, counties, states and politicians also have filed amicus curiae or "friend of the court" briefs in the case.

Baltimore, Maryland; Berkeley, Calif.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Monterey County, Calif.; New Haven, Conn.; New York City; Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Francisco; Seattle and several others are supporting the Department of Justice's opposition to the law.